As a boy growing up on a farm near the Caribbean coast of Colombia(哥伦比亚), Alvaro Cogollo loved both plants and vallenato, the traditional music of the region．As a biology student in the 1970s, Cogollo traveled around the country to document its rich botanical heritage and, informally, studied the music that tells an important story of Colombia．

　　"We were colonized by the Spanish; later, Africans were brought as slaves to exploit gold mines; and the native peoples were already here," he says．"That is what authentic vallenato represents with its three instruments：the accordion(手风琴), from a European origin; la caja drum, which is of African origin; and la guacharaca, a beating instrument made from a palm tree, which is from native American orgin．”

　　Over the course of his nearly four-decade career, Cogollo has discovered more than 150 new species of plants, 17 of which bear his name．Although Cogollo never earned a PhD, his colleagues say he' s made invaluable contributions to knowledge of Colombia’s plant at a time when deforestation(砍伐森林)is a big threat to the country' s biodiversity．Governments have focused on trying to move the country out of poverty and conflict through exploiting its natural resources, not through scientific resource development．But Cogollo sees things a different way．By educating the public about alternative uses for the land, and researching plants' potential uses－including as medicines, foods, and bio-fuels－Golombi-a could improve its economy and quality of life without neglecting conservation, Cogollo says．

　　Cogollo's other major achievement has been the transformation of a neglected botanical garden in a Medellm neighborhood into a well-known center for research, environmental education, and community gatherings．What had been a club for wealthy orchid enthusiasts now offers free admission and attracts rich and poor alike．The success of the botanical garden has in turn contributed to the transformation of Medellm．Once seriously damaged, by violent wars between aimed groups, the city has had some improvements that include better public safety, tougher pollution controls and the creation of green spaces．

　　What Cogollo has focused his latest efforts on is teaching Colombians from all social classes and backgrounds about the importance of biodiversity and conservation through a shared musical heritage．"The fact that Alvaro' s been able to give talks to audiences filled with all kinds of people is very important, and that's what happened in Medellin the first time he talked about vallenato music," Dr．Forcro says．"People sitting there had no idea of environmental conservation, and then they did．"

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　　Stieg Larsson died before the overwhelming global success of his M Millennium" novels －The Gid with the Dragon Tattoo", "The Girl Who Played with Fire" and "The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet' s Nest"．But the Swedish journalist-turned-novelist had actually intended that his "Millennium" series would include at least five books, a plan cut short by his death in 2004．In fact, he died before any of his three "Millennium" novels featuring Lisbeth Salander were published．

　　However, Larsson's long-time partner Eva Gabrielsson is locked in an extended dispute with Larsson ' s family over the rights to his literary(文学的)heritage．For now, fans will have to be satisfied with the few lines about Larsson' s personal life offered by Gabrielsson' s autobiography "Millennium, Stieg and Me．" In the 160-page book, which is to be released in the US later this year, Gabrielsson records how she and Larsson met and explored the creation of the famous crime series．She shared her plans to secure the rights to complete Larsson' s fourth novel, saying that she has the draft of the fourth book and can finish it．"Stieg and I often wrote together," Gabrielsson says．She refuses, however, to share any details about the forthcoming novel, saying only, "It is not my intention to reveal here the plot of the fourth volume…On the other hand, I want to say that Lisbeth little by little frees herself from her ghosts and her enemies．"

　　But because Gabrielsson and Larsson never married and Larsson never left a will, Gabrielsson says she will finish the book if and when she gets rights to her late partner" s works from his family．She expresses concern at the way Larsson? s family is handling his legacy and the Millennium brand．"I don' t want to see coffee mugs and other　‘Millennium' merchandise; I want to see the real Stieg respected," she writes．

　　Larsson' s publisher has now seemed to throw cold water on the view that that day will come anytime soon．"There is no fourth book from Stieg Larsson on the horizon．Only the owner of the estate(遗产), now controlled by his family, has the right to decide on the publication of a fourth book, and they have no intention of doing so at the 'moment．" In spite of Gabrielsson's concerns, a Hollywood adaptation of the first novel, starring Daniel Craig, is around the comer．The news is sure to drum up public' s attention for her autobiography and －should it ever appear －the fourth and final novel．

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　　If you are searching for a love relationship, but keep getting disappointed or if you feel that you give a lot and get little in return, then there is one question I want you to ask yourself, the answer to which will transform your entire life experience：Do you love yourself?

　　"Yes, it’s obvious, I love myself!" a lot of people may say．Unfortunately, in 90％ of cases, the decisive reason why you haven’t been able to attract love into your life is your lack of love towards yourself．

　　When we were scolded for wrong doing(on a regular basis), or told we weren’t "good enough" by our well-meaning parents, we took it exactly and personally, and the "not good enough" part was impressed in our hidden mind, forever robbing us of the ability to love ourselves．Religion added to this by telling us we are all sinners(罪人), so it's in our nature to do things that are "wrong．" You may not be aware that you hate or are ashamed of some aspect of yourself．On the surface you, may think, I am fine．Your brain tells you that because logically you know there is nothing wrong with you．Yet, when you meet a guy you like, your first reaction is：He is way out of my league．I d better run before I get hurt．

　　Then let’s make a slight change．In order to attract love into your life you have to first develop love within yourself．You have to give off love．You have to start with the most important person in your life－YOU．

　　The problem is, we expect ourselves to be perfect．When we don’t meet those standards, each shortcoming gets magnified(放大)in our eyes out of proportion．The trick is to love ourselves exactly the way we are, including the shortcomings．They are what make you human．Once you learn to accept and love yourself exactly the way you are, you will step into your power．You will give off inner strength, love and beauty(the kind of beauty that is not measured by weight-to-height ratio or the perfection of your facial features)．No longer will you need someone else to "complete" you．Being at peace with who you are will attract a partner who will value you as much as you value yourself．

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　　It was the first night of Chanukah(光明节)and the night before Ellie' s last final examination．As a freshman she was more than ready to go home for the first time since August．She' d packed every thing she needed to take home except the 8 candles that are lit every night of Chanukah．Ellie had been so tempted to pack the menorah(烛台)earlier and "pass over" the first night' s lighting．However, Ellie ended up lighting the candles, said the blessings, placed the menorah on her window and spent the rest of the evening in her room studying．

　　Ellie’s first winter holiday was uneventful, and when she returned to her dormitory on the day before classes started she was surprised to find a small note on her door．"Thank you," the note said．It was signed "Susan．" It was dated the day that Ellie had left after finals．Ellie was totally confused．She didn't know a Susan．Believing that the letter had been delivered to her by mistake, Ellie put the note on her desk and forgot about it．

　　About half an hour before she was getting ready to head out for dinner, there was a knock at Ellie s door．There, standing in the hall was a woman Ellie didn't recognize．"I'm Susan," she said．I wanted to thank you in person but you' d already left before I finished my finals．

　　"Are you sure it's me you' re looking for?" asked Ellie．Susan asked if she could come in and explain．

　　It seemed that Susan had been facing the same dilemma that Ellie had been that first night of Chanukah．She really didn't want to light her candles either．Not because she was packing or was heading home, but because her older sister Hannah had been killed by a drunk driver ten months earlier, and this was the first year that she' d have to light the candles alone．The sisters had always taken turns lighting the first candle and this wasn't Susan' s year．She just couldn't bring herself to take her sister's place, it was just too painful to even think about Chanukah without Hannah and she had decided to pass over the entire holiday．

　　Susan said that she had just finished studying and was closing her window when she happened to glance across the courtyard and saw the candles shining in Ellie’s window．"I started to cry．It was if Hannah had taken her turn and put the candles in your window for me to see．" All Susan had to do was close her eyes and remember the candles in the window, the ones that Hannah had lit the last time it was her turn．

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　　Recently, an Internet game has become a new fashion among young office workers and students．People can “farm” on a piece of “land” and “grow”, “sell” or even “steal” “vegetables”, “flowers” and “fruits” on the Net．They earn some e-money and buy more “seeds”, “pets” and even “houses”．

　　Joyce interviewed some young people．Here are their opinions．

　　Harold：I don't quite understand why they are so mad about the childish game．Maybe they are just not confident enough to face the real world．

　　Allan：I enjoy putting some “bugs”(小虫子)in my friends'' gardens and we've become closer because of the game．Having fun together is the most exciting thing about it．

　　Laura：You know, people in the city are longing for the life in the countryside．It reduces my work pressure in the office; besides, it gives me the exciting feeling of being a “thief”．

　　Ivy：Well, it's just a waste of time．Teenagers playing the game spend so many hours on it that they cannot pay more attention to their study．

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　　If a person forgets names, places or facts-and has trouble with everyday things like reading or shopping-it may not mean you are getting old．It could be Alzheimer's disease．So it's important to see a doctor as soon as you can．

　　There is no cure for Alzheimer's．But a drug called ARICEPT has been used by millions of people to help their symptoms(症状)．

　　In studies, ARICEPT has been proved to work for Alzheimer's．It has helped people improve their memory over time．It has also helped them to keep doing everyday things on their own．

　　Ask your doctor if ARICEPT is right for you or your loved one．It is the Number One drug for Alzheimer's in the world．The sooner you know it's Alzheimer's, the better ARICEPT can help．

　　ARICEPT is good for many but may not be good for everyone．Some people may experience not sleeping well, feeling very tired, or not wanting to eat．In studies, these side effects weren't serious at all and went away over time．Some people taking ARICEPT may feel light-headed．In this case you should tell your doctors because your condition may get worse．

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　　One hot night last July, when our new baby wouldn't or couldn't sleep, I tried everything I could think of：a warm bottle, songs gentle rocking．Nothing would settle him．Guessing that I had a long night ahead of me, I brought a portable TV into his room, figuring that watching the late movie was as good a way as any to kill of the hours till dawn．To my surprise, as soon as the TV lit up, the baby quieted right down, his little eyes focused brightly on the tube．Not to waste an opportunity for sleep, I then tiptoes out of the room, leaving him to watch the actors celebrate John Bellushi's forty-fifth birthday．

　　My wife and I heard none of the baby that night, and the next morning when I went into his room, I found him still watching TV himself．

　　I found in my baby's behavior a symbol of the new generation．My wife and I had given him some books to examine, but he merely spit upon them．When we read to him, he did not feel comfortable．And so it is in the schools．We find that our students don't read and they look down upon reading and scold those of us who teach it．All they want to do is watch TV．After this experience with the baby, however, I have reached a conclusion：“Let them watch it!” If television is that much more attractive to children than books, why should we fight about it? Let them watch it all they want!

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　　One morning more than thirty years ago, I entered the Track Kitchen, a restaurant where everyone from the humblest(卑微的)to the most powerful came for breakfast．I noticed an empty chair next to an elderly, unshaven man, who looked somewhat disheveled．He was wearing a worn-out hat and was alone．I asked if I might join him．He agreed quietly and I sat down to have my breakfast．

　　We cautiously began a conversation and spoke about a wide rang of things．We never introduced ourselves．I was concerned that he might have no money and not be able to afford something to eat．So as I rose to go back to the counter and buy a second cup of coffee, I asked,

　　“My I get you something?”

　　“A coffee would be nice．”

　　Then I bought him a cup of coffee, we talked more, and he accepted another cup of coffee．Finally, I rose to leave, wished him well, and headed for the exit．At the door I met one of my friends．He asked,

　　“How did you get to know Mr．Galbreath?”

　　“Who?”

　　“The man you were sitting with．He is chairman of the Board of Churchill Downs．”

　　I could hardly believe it．I was buying, offering a free breakfast, and feeling pity for one of the world's richest and most powerful men!

　　My few minutes with Mr．Galbreath changed my life．Now I try to treat everyone with respect, no matter who I think they are, and no matter another human being with kindness and sincerity．

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Dear Betty,

　　My roommate's family wants me to celebrate Thanksgiving Day with them in their home．I accepted the invitation, and I'm excited about going, but I'm a little nervous about it, too．The social customs in my country are different from those here, so I'm a little worried about making mistakes．

　　Should I bring a gift, such as candy or flowers? Should I arrive on time or a little late? At the dinner table, how can I know which fork or knife to use? How can I let the family know that I'm thankful for their kindness?

Yours,

Knowing Nothing

Dear Knowing Nothing,

　　It's a good idea to bring a gift when you go to a dinner party．Flowers are always welcome, or you can bring a bottle of wine if you know the family drink it．

　　You should arrive on time or five to ten minutes late．Don't get there early．If you are going to be more than fifteen minutes late, you should call and tell them．

　　Try to relax at the dinner table．If you don't know how to use the right fork, knife or spoon, just watch the other guests, and follow them．If you still have no idea of what to do, don't be shy about asking the person next to you; it's better to ask them than to be silently uncomfortable and nervous．

　　If you like the food, say so．Of course, you'll thank the host and hostess for the meal and for their kindness．It's also a good idea to send a card to thank them the day after．

Yours,

Betty

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　　One night last February, a seventeen-year-old Duffy drove home along a winding road, he saw a strange light thrown against the tree．“I knew it wasn't the moon”, he said．“I drive this road all the time and I notice little things out of place．”

　　Duffy stopped his car and got out to examine．Below him far down in the deep valley lay a broken car with its headlights on．Thirty minutes earlier, a man had driven off the edge of the road, which has no guardrail．His car fell and rolled end over end, landing on its top more than two hundred feet below．

　　Duffy rushed to call for help, then returned and got down to reach the injured driver．Snow covered the valley and the temperature was below freezing．After struggling back up the cliff, Duffy took off his jacket and shirt and wrapped the injured man in time, along with the blankets from his car．

　　Life-saving deeds are starting to become usual action for Duffy, the oldest of seven children．When he was 12, he saved his ten-year-old brother from drowning．Two years ago, his three-year-old sister ate rat poison, and Duffy cleaned out her mouth, make her drink milk to protect her stomach and called doctors．

　　“We have tried to teach the children good values, and it looks like we have got some reward for it．” His father says．

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